TLDRs:
- Meta is in talks with Disney and A24 for exclusive content on its upcoming VR headset.
- The new device, codenamed “Loma,” aims to compete directly with Apple’s Vision Pro.
- Loma is expected to be priced between Meta’s Quest line and Apple’s premium headset.
- Meta continues investing heavily in content partnerships to strengthen its hardware ecosystem.
Meta is reportedly in advanced discussions with entertainment giants Disney and A24 to secure exclusive content for its next-generation virtual reality headset. Internally dubbed “Loma,” the device is designed to deliver a higher-end immersive experience while maintaining a more accessible price point than Apple’s $3,500 Vision Pro.
Meta Challenges Apple’s Vision Pro
With content partnerships at the center of this strategy, Meta aims to carve out a distinct space in the competitive extended reality landscape by offering viewers unique shows, films, and experiences unavailable anywhere else offering stiff competition to Apple’s Vision Pro.
Notably, the talks first revealed on Wednesday, signal Meta’s renewed commitment to content as a differentiator. Executives hope that compelling partnerships will help build a strong foundation for Loma’s launch, currently expected next year. Early reports indicate Meta is willing to invest millions into both episodic and standalone immersive productions that will premiere on Loma, either as permanent exclusives or timed releases.
“Loma” Aims for Sweet Spot in the Market
Loma is expected to fall somewhere between Meta’s current $300 Quest headset and Apple’s top-tier Vision Pro. Sources familiar with the project suggest the device could cost around $1,000, positioning it as a midrange option for consumers seeking premium quality without the Apple-level price tag. The new headset reportedly resembles a pair of high-tech glasses and uses an external computing puck that fits in a user’s pocket, making it more lightweight and mobile than traditional VR headsets.
This design sounds similar to Meta’s previously rumored Puffin headset, which was described as a compact and tethered device built for ease of use. Whether Loma is a refined version of Puffin or a separate prototype remains unclear, but the underlying ambition is evident. Meta wants to lower the barrier to immersive media by creating hardware that is both wearable and powerful, without alienating casual users.
Meta Bets Big on Immersive Future
As Meta pushes forward with Loma, its broader Reality Labs division continues to pour billions into the development of virtual and augmented reality products. Despite operating at a loss, the division is viewed internally as crucial to the company’s long-term growth.
Moreover, the firm’s success with products like the Ray-Ban smart glasses, which have sold well thanks to built-in AI capabilities, provides a hint at the potential success Loma might enjoy with the right content mix. Crucially, the partnerships Meta is pursuing with Disney and A24 are not limited to original productions. The company is also looking to license existing shows and movies, and many of these may be available on Loma first before being released more broadly.
